The New Academic: a Strategic Handbook

Book excerpt: "This is an accessible and insightful book about how to achieve a successful academic career. Wise and witty, easy-to-apply, it presents advice and guidance on teaching, research and networking … A much needed book." Dr Ming Cheng, Senior Research Fellow, the Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Brighton, UK "All academic staff should get a copy of this book on day one as part of orientation! It is well written, practical and easy to read. I will use this book as a road map for my whole career." Dr Rhonda Clifford, Deputy Director, Division of Pharmacy, University of Western Australia, Australia "This is a book that is long overdue! While it will be particularly appealing to early career academic and should be recommended reading for all 'new academics', it will also have wider and broader appeal for all academic leaders and managers interested in building a culture of effective, engaged academics who can achieve their full career potential, and thereby contribute to the success of the institution.” Professor Lorraine Stefani, Director, Centre for Academic Development, University of Auckland, New Zealand "This is a timely and welcome guide to orient new academics to the complexity of higher education in the 21st century ... Dr. Debowski has a gift for clear thinking and concise and lively writing ... If I were to give one work to faculty members new to higher education, I would give them this work to help launch their academic careers." Deborah DeZure, Assistant Provost for Faculty and Organizational Development, Michigan State University, USA Are you looking to build a successful academic career? Written by an experienced author, this insightful handbook gives a comprehensive overview of academic work, from the starting point of seeking employment to moving into leadership roles. In today's competitive academic environment, you need to be able to operate strategically as a teacher, researcher and leader to establish yourself and progress. This book shows you how to take ownership of your career, build a strong support base and integrate regular evaluative and reflective practices to monitor the success of your career strategy. The book: Explains the broader higher education context and the way academics are assessed and evaluated Explores the key support strategies that can be accessed, including mentors and sponsors Includes practical checklists and tips on academic practices, including grant seeking, publishing, teaching, networking and managing research projects Examines critical issues such as dealing with difficult academic cultures and bullying